Armdrag.com: Gemmell sends his first protege to states

Gemmell sends his first protege to states
By Matt Wing, Tribune Sports
The Evening Tribune, Hornell, NY
Monday, February 28, 2005

Full Text: Copyright 2005 The Evening Tribune.

BROCKPORT - The man that was credited for starting the run of Hornell wrestlers to the New York State meet is now sending his own students to the highest level of competition in the state.

The Hornell wrestling program has thrilled under current head coach Matt Sheldon, who sent his first wrestler to the state meet back in 1992 when John Gemmell advanced to the state meet since 1992, but stated that it all began with Gemmell.

After tearing up the mats at the Division III level, Gemmell began his coaching career at Alfred State College, but has since moved on to coach the Alfred-Almond wrestling team. On Saturday, Gemmell sent his first wrestler to the state meet as a coach when Andrew Davis won all four of his matches at 135 pounds during the Super Sectional Division II meet at SUNY Brockport.

"That' probably the best I've seen him wrestle the two years that I've had him," said Gemmell. "He wrestled tough today."

Davis has watched his older brother Greg, now wrestling at Alfred State, become successful in the sport, but he was able to do something even his brother couldn't do. He will be one of 11 state finalists to wrestle for the 135-pound New York State Public High Schools Athletic Association.

"This is something that I've been looking forward to for a long time," Davis said. "I didn't think it would happen, but Mr. Gemmell really brought my confidence up and my technical skills. He made me a better wrestler."

Davis began the tournament on Friday with a 9-0 shutout over LeRoy's Travis Fenstermaker, and alternate, and tthen took down Bolivar-Ruchburg's Dennis Adams by a 10-3 score to reach the semifinals. It only took Davis just over three minutes to pin Midlakes' Morgan Hoven and he was on his way to the Super Sectional final.

"In the morning, he was dominant on his feet and dominant on top and got into the semis." said Gemmell. "He was on a mission."

Standing between Davis, the Class B champion, and the trip to the state meet was Byron-Bergen's Steve McInally, the Class BBB champion.

"I knew this kid, coming in, that he was tough on his feet," said Gemmell. "We came up with a gameplan to tie him up and slow the kid down and work our strengths and our weight against him."

During the first round, the two wrestlers were feeling each other out, but Davis got the all-important first points when he scored a takedown in the final seconds of the first period.

"It was real important, especially that first takedown," Gemmell said of Davis getting the lead. "I knew that we could ride the kid out because we were better on the mat. "I told him going into the last match, 'get that first takedown and that's going to go a long ways. We can ride him out.' Going up 2-0 at at the end was huge after the first period."

Davis scored three more points in the second period when he escaped McInally's hold and scored another takedown. McInally finally got on the board midway through the final period and immediately let Davis up in order to try for another takedown, but the score ended at 6-2 in favor of Davis.

"My coach and teammates prepared me very well," said Davis. "I had kids that didn't make it (to super sectionals) come out and help me throughout the week. Their dedication helped me the most."

The last member of an Alfred-Almond wrestling team to earn a trip to the state meet was Kenny Porter, who won a state title in 1990 and returned in 1991, but failed in his repeat attempt. Gemmell issued a challenge to the entire school to come out and support Davis in his quest for a state title.

"It's been 14 years since we've had (a wrestler at the state meet)," said Gemmell. "The school better get excited about this one."

The state meet will begin Friday at the Pepsi Arena in downtown Albany.